Nolan Fights for Queens
Nolan (9), prepares to feed the ball into the scrum.
Competitive. Determined. Ambitious. These three traits perfectly describe local rugby player, Sydnee Nolan. Having played rugby throughout high school, as well as two years with Queens University, Nolan is no stranger to hard work. Nolan, being only 5’2”, does not look like your typical rugby player at first glace. If one were to take a closer look, however, they would notice the lean physique, defined muscle, and the way her face lights up whenever someone mentions the word, “rugby.”
The 2014-2015 rugby season was one of trials and tribulations for Queens University. Having won the OUA Final during the 2013-2014 season, Nolan was expecting big things from herself and team. No longer in her rookie year, she looked forward to success.
“In first year, I was really lost and scared to make mistakes because I wasn’t used to playing at such a high level of competition,” she says. “This year, I knew what to expect from the team and what was expected of me.”
Unfortunately, no amount of preparation could predict what the 2014-2015 season would bring. With members of the Queens rugby team having suffered multiple injuries, they fell short during the OUA Bronze Medal match against Western University. Nolan says she learned a lot about herself and her teammates from this heartbreaking loss.
“I learned how to deal with failure in a positive way, and I use that game and last season to mentally tell myself this isn’t enough – that I want more. We were all unhappy with the result; I think it was a wakeup call that we wish had come earlier in the season. We learned a valuable lesson from it.”
Nolan says for her, she tries not to let the value of a game get to her. Even during important games, such as the OUA Bronze Medal match against the Mustangs, she has the same mindset.
“I try to break the game down into little pieces,” she says. “I don’t like to think about the weight of the game or what will happen afterwards. I find my job, and I do what I need to do. I think that every game I play could be my last, so I play as hard as I can for those 80 minutes.
Typically filled with lessons learned and broken hearts, the road to success is never an easy one. Nolan, who has never been one to back down from a challenge, is already working hard this offseason to better herself and her teammates. With high goals in mind, she sets her sights on another OUA title.